Pakistan's Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered the immediate transfer of former prime minister Imran Khan from jail to a private hospital in Islamabad for medical treatment. Khan, who has spent more than three years behind bars, has faced growing concerns over his health as rumours about his condition have continued to circulate.
The top court rejected the government's objections and directed authorities to move Khan to Shifa International Hospital within 48 hours. He is expected to remain there until September 16. A medical board will also be constituted to assess his condition, with his personal physician and sister, Dr Aleema Khan, included on the panel.
Khan's close aide and adviser Zulfiqar Ali Bukhari welcomed the decision, saying it should have been taken earlier to prevent further deterioration of the former prime minister's eye and overall health.
One of Khan's lawyers, Uzair Bhandari, told Al Jazeera that the court also ordered authorities to allow Khan's family to visit him in hospital. He will additionally be permitted to speak with his sons, who are based in the UK.
WHAT DOES IMRAN KHAN'S HEALTH REPORT SHOW?
The Supreme Court's order came a day after officials at Adiala Jail sought to reassure the public about Khan's health. On Monday, authorities claimed that the 73-year-old's eyesight had improved considerably following treatment and was now "almost normal".
Khan's family and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), however, questioned that assessment. His lawyer had previously claimed that Khan had lost nearly 85 per cent of the vision in his right eye around six months ago.
Medical documents submitted before the court painted a more concerning picture, reportedly showing fluctuations in Khan's blood pressure, heart palpitations and severe mental stress.
His latest recorded blood pressure was 140/80, with a pulse rate of 54 beats per minute. His blood pressure in February had been 120/80.
Although the latest medical report was not officially made public, former Pakistani president Arif Alvi shared it on social media and described Khan's condition as alarming. Alvi warned that the next three months could determine whether Khan's health improves or suffers lasting damage.
PTI has also alleged that Khan has been kept in isolation and prevented from meeting family members for more than eight months.
His sister Uzma Khanum was last permitted to see him on December 2, 2025, following large-scale PTI protests. After the meeting, she criticised the conditions in which Khan was being held and described his imprisonment as "mental torture". She also claimed that Khan blamed Pakistan's army chief, Asim Munir, for his circumstances.
Khan's sons, Kasim and Sulaiman, had earlier told Sky News that their father was being held in a "death cell", which they alleged was surrounded by dirty water and prisoners suffering from serious illnesses.
The government has rejected such allegations. Rana Sanaullah, an adviser to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, told the Senate on Monday that Khan was receiving the best medical treatment available.
WHY IS IMRAN KHAN IN JAIL?
The Supreme Court's intervention comes after renewed protests by PTI supporters demanding Khan's release. Earlier this month, hundreds of party workers demonstrated in Rawalpindi, Lahore and Mianwali as Khan completed three years in prison. The Rawalpindi demonstrations became violent after clashes between protesters and security forces.
Human rights organisations, including Amnesty International, have also urged the Shehbaz Sharif government to restore Khan's access to his family, lawyers and medical treatment.
Khan became prime minister in 2018 but was removed from office through a no-confidence vote four years later. His PTI subsequently faced extensive restrictions and was effectively prevented from contesting the 2024 election.
He was first arrested on May 9, 2023, triggering widespread protests and violence across Pakistan. He was arrested again on August 5 that year in connection with several corruption cases, including the Toshakhana case involving the alleged unlawful sale of state gifts.
Khan's transfer to a private hospital until September 16, when his case is next scheduled to be heard, will mark his longest period outside prison since his incarceration. The hospitalisation is also expected to provide a clearer assessment of the former prime minister's health amid the competing claims surrounding his condition.
